Adjustable pallet

ABSTRACT

An adjustable and reuseable pallet for storing and transporting articles having a base with a curvilinear circumference, such as coiled sheet metal, wherein the pallet is made of two independent load bearing decks placed side by side and having opposed upwardly turned outside walls confining and containing the base of the article therebetween. Each of the side walls of each pallet half is adapted to always contact the curvilinear sides of an article at a plurality of positions, which vary in location upon the size or diameter of the load, in order to confine the article load therebetween and to further distribute forces from any impact to the pallet which might otherwise deform the article load when the pallet is constructed of a rigid material as opposed to a less rigid material. The article load is secured to both pallet halves or sections with securing bands.

United States Patent 1191 Weiss ADJUSTABLE PALLET Jan. 7, 1975 [57] ABSTRACT An adjustable and reuseable pallet for storing and transporting articles having a base with a curvilinear circumference, such as coiled sheet metal, wherein the pallet is made of two independent load bearing decks placed side by side and having opposed upwardly turned outside walls confining and containing the base of the article therebetween. Each of the side walls of each pallet half is adapted to always contact the curvilinear sides of an article at a plurality of positions, which vary in location upon the size or diameter of the load, in order to confine the article load therebetween and to further distribute forces from any impact to the pallet which might otherwise deform the article load when the pallet is constructed of a rigid material as opposed to a less rigid material. The article load is secured to both pallet halves or sections with securing bands.

9 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures 1 ADJUSTABLE PALLET BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates generally to article carrying pallets and more particularly to adjustable and reuseable pallets adapted for the storing and transportation of articles having a base with a curvilinear circumference, such as coiled sheet metal.

A number of pallets have been designed for the storing and transporting of sheet metal coils which are both adjustable and reuseable. For example, see my US. Pat. No. 3,695,187 issued Oct. 3, 1972. However, a number of disadvantages arise in pallets of the prior art for the transporting of objects having a curvilinear circumference such as sheet metal coils, in that the article load can readily shift on the pallet even though it is secured with securing bands, and in addition, heavy side impacts to the pallet can readily result in deformation of the coiled sheet metal. Also, adjustable pallets of the prior art for coiled sheet metal and the like, have generally been found to be complex in their structure and accordingly expensive to manufacture and difficult to manipulate.

The adjustable and reuseable pallets for coiled sheet metal of the prior art in addition are not readily adapted for manufacture from molded plastics as well as metal.

Wooden pallets are generally employed for carrying heavy sheet metal coils and the like. Such wooden pallets are relatively heavy, expensive and difficult to handle due to their size. Because of their size and weight, shipment of the pallets along back to their origin of use also becomes expensive. Furthermore, it has been found that wooden pallets are not as durable as desired and they must be disposed of in many instances after a single use due to the damage caused by relatively rough handling and the heavy loads which they bear.

Accordingly, it is the principal object of the present invention to provide a strong, rugged, yet light pallet which is adjustable within a range of load sizes to carry a number of different-sized article loads for the transportation and storage of heavy articles having curvilinear bases such as coiled sheet metal, and which in addition substantially reduces the probability of damage or deformation to the article load caused by rough handling and resultant impacts transmitted to the pallet.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an adjustable pallet which may be readily stacked when empty and is adaptable for nesting one in another for convenient and economic transportation and storage during non-use.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The adjustable and reuseable pallet of the present in- I vention for storing and transporting articles having a base with a curvilinear circumference, comprises an opposed pair of independent and separable load bearing decks on runner support with opposed upwardly turned side walls on each of their outside edges to confine and contain the curvilinear base of the article therebetween. The article load is secured to the pair of load bearing decks with securing bands.

In addition, each of the side walls is preferably adapted to contact the curvilinear sides of the article in a plurality of positions in order to distribute any impacts made to the front or back of the pallet, which for this purpose should be constructed of a rigid material, more uniformly over the article load side surfaces in order to minimize damage possibilites to the article load. This is accomplished in one form by forming the side walls of a plurality of straight wall sections which tangentially contact the curvilinear outside surfaces of the article. The position of the tangential points of contact will vary with article loads of different diameters.

In addition, the pair of opposed independent load bearing decks may be identical thereby greatly reduc ing the manufacturing costs and permitting good stacking capabilities of the pallet halves. The pallet halves may also be molded of plastic as well as constructed of metal. When molded of plastic, the pallet may be molded as an integral unit.

The article load may be secured with the securing bands such that the bands cross each other at the top and bottom and pass over the entire load and under both of the deck halves. If the article load is cylindrical with an open core, then the securing bands may be passed through the open core and under the deck halves. In this latter arrangement, it is preferable to use at least four bands such that each pallet is secured to the bottom of the article load with two bands. It is preferable that the bands securely and snugly pull the article load to the afore-mentioned outside walls.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Other objects and advantages appear in the following description and claims.

The accompanying drawings show, for the purpose of exemplification without limiting the invention or the claims thereto, certain practical embodiments illustrating the principles of this invention wherein:

FIG. I is a plan view of one embodiment of the adjustable pallet of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a view in front elevation of the adjustable pallet illustrated in FIG. 1 with a coil of sheet metal shown in partial section resting thereon.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view in side elevation of one-half of the adjustable pallet illustrated in FIG. 1 as seen along line 3-3.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the adjustable pallet illustrated in FIG. 1 with a larger diameter sheet metal coil resting thereon andsecured thereto.

FIG. 5 is a plan view illustrating another embodiment of the adjustable pallet of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view along line 66 in front elevation of the adjustable pallet shown in FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view in side elevation of the adjustable pallet shown in FIG. 5 as seen along line 77.

FIG. 8 is a plan view of the center coupling and coil support alone which is shown in FIG. 7. I

FIG. 9 is a view in side elevation of the center coupling shown in FIG. 8.

, DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, the adjustable pallet l is molded of plastic of any durable and suitable type and consists of a pair of independent load bearing decks 2 and 2 respectively which are molded from an identical mold. The decks 2 and 2 are provided with bottom runners 3 which are integrally molded with the remainder of each deck. The side walls 4 of the bottom runners 3 are corrugated as best illustrated in FIG. I for additional strength. A metal I-beam 12 is inserted in the hollow of each bottom runner 3 with a snug fit for additional support and strength. As an alternative, the I- beams may be encapsulated in the molded decks.

The pallet decks 2 and 2 are each provided with opposed upwardly turned side walls 5 which confine and contain the base of the article load 6 which has a curvilinear circumference and is illustrated in dashed lines in FIG. 1 as a sheet metal coil. The sheet metal coil 6 is illustrated in real form in FIG. 2. The sheet metal coil 6 is rigidly secured to the two pallet halves 2 and 2'(or conversely, the two pallet halves are secured to coil 6) by means of four conventional securing bands 7. The securing bands 7 each independently pass through the open core 8 of the sheet metal coil 6 and then pass through their respective slots 9 in the floor of each deck2 and 2 respectively, and then continue on under their respective pallet half 2 or 2 and up the cylindrical side walls of coil 6 and over the top thereof to their beginnings.

It should be noted that slots 9 are long enough to permit the securing bands 7 to snugly secure the outside circumferential base of the sheet metal coil 6 against the inside of walls 5. The walls 5 for each deck combined to form concave walls so that they confine the article load 6 therebetween and prevent slippage of the sheet metal coil 6 as is sometimes a common occurrence with conventional flat deck pallets without side walls or with single straight side walls.

The side walls 5 in this embodiment are illustrated as a plurality of straight wall sections 10 and 11. This embodiment is preferable; however, curvilinear concave walls may also be employed, as they will adequately confine the load therebetween.

The reason the straight walls as illustrated are preferable is that they are thus adapted to contact the curvilinear sides of the sheet metal coil 6 at a plurality of different positions; namely, tangent points 13. Accordingly, if the pallet is molded ofa rigid plastic or formed entirely of metal, when the side walls 5 of the pallet receive a heavy impact such as from improper handling, this impact is distributed to all of the contact points 13 such that its full efforts are not concentrated to one area of the coil whereby it might be deformed or folded.

An additional advantage of having the pallet molded of plastic is that when the conventional wood pallets are employed a paper cover is generally first placed over the pallet before the sheet metal coil is rested thereon in order to prevent the moisture in the wood from rusting the coil. Of course, plastics do not have the ability to retain water, and this problem is eliminated. I

The load bearing decks 2 and 2' are, of course, separable form each other to accomodate larger diameter sheet metal coils which generally vary in size anywhere from approximately 28 to 55 inches in outside diameter. If desired, the pallet decks 2 may be made in two different range sizes to accomodate coils in the 28 to 42 inch diameter in one range, and 40 to 55 inch coils in the second range.

Ears 14 are provided on the outside edges of the decks 2 and 2' as indicated to confine the straps 7 respectively theebetween in order therebetween prevent them from slipping or the load 6 from shifting on the decks 2 and 2'. Ears 14 also serve as a means to confine steel cable or chain slings for lifting the entire loaded pallet such as by a crane.

In FIG. 1, it may also be noted that a small diameter sheet metal coil 6 is being supported and that the load bearing support decks 2 and 2 butt against each other to give additional strength to the adjustable pallet combination when the load 6 is securely strapped thereto. This, of course, is not possible with larger diameter sheet metal coils as illustrated in FIG. 4.

In FIG. 4, a larger diameter sheet metal coil 6 rests on the pallet structure of FIG. 1, the only difference being that the decks 2 and 2 are by necessity widely separated.

Also in the embodiment of FIG. 4, the securing bands 7 in this instance are four in number and pass through the center core 8 as illustrated in FIG. 1. Although in the embodiment of FIG. 4 it is preferable that the bands 7 be secured as they are shown in the same manner as they are in FIG. 1, the structure of FIG. 5 is illustrated as secured with only two bands 7 passing over the entire load 6 without passing through core 8 to show the versatility of the adjustable pallet whereby it may be adapted to different type loads, as many loads are not provided with an open center passage for the securing bands. It can also be noted in FIG. 4 that the tangent points 13 have shifted along their respective vertical walls 5 as compared to FIG. 1.

The adjustable pallet of the present invention may also be completely constructed of metal. Of course, any suitable metal may be employed, however, a light metal such as an aluminum alloy is preferable, and the structure may be made of angle and strip welded together by any suitable conventional means.

Referring next to FIGS. 5 through 9, the adjustable pallet of the present invention is illustrated in a slightly different form for very large article loads. Again, the pallet illustrated is constructed of plastic in a very similar manner to the pallet structure illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 4. Accordingly, elements in this embodiment which are similar to those illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 4 are designated with the same reference numerals.

The basic difference between the embodiment illustrated in these figures as opposed to the previous embodiment is that extra support is provided in the center of the decks 2 and 2' for the heavier load and a center coupling and inside diameter support member 20 is provided to span between the two spaced decks 2 and 2 and to provide inside diameter support for the article load or coil 6 to help prevent the coil from being crushed should the pallet receive a large impact to the side thereof. The support 20 is shown in greater detail in FIGS. 8 and 9.

The support 20 consists of a bridge member 21 which spans the two decks 2 and 2', the two end feet 22, the upwardly extending and opposed supports 23 and the anticompression steel plate 24, which is retained between the supports 23 by means of the opposed channels formed by projections 25 of supports 23.

As best illustrated in FIG. 5, the feet 22 depend downwardly into corresponding channels 26 provided in the decks 2 and 2. The entire support member 20 is molded of plastic with the exception of the plate 24.

Supports 23 protrude upwardly into the open interior of the open center core 8 of the steel coil and engage the inside diameter of the steel coil such that when the pallet is submitted to large impacts, the metal plate 24 assists in preventing the coil from collapsing by holding the inside diameter dimension of the coil to its original shape.

It should also be noted that channels 26 are sufficiently long to permit the feet 22 of support member to be adjustably slid or positioned therein so that the opposed decks 2 and 2 may be further spread apart or brought together as required by the outside diameter of the particular article load 6 being mounted to the pallet 1.

Channels 26 are designed more or less in an H configuration leaving upward protruding steps 27 and 28 which in conjunction with the side walls of channels 26 provide a hollow to receive the two metal channels 30 and 31, between which the feet 22 of the support member 20 are positioned. Channels 26 are also provided with additonal spaces at the outside ends in order to receive metal end plates 32 which assist in making the pallet structure more rigid and provide an end plate for channels 30 and 31 to butt against so that when side impacts are received by the pallet decks 2 and 2' and the corresponding plate 32, the impact is transmitted to the heavier channels 30 and 31 thereby taking a great deal of the impact load from the molded plastic deck members 2 and 2'. Channel supports 30 and 31 and end plates 32 are thus snugly fitted into corresponding pockets formed in the plastic molded decks 2 and 2 in a manner similar to l-beam members 12 are received in their corresponding pockets formed in the hollows or legs or runners 3.

As can be best seen in FIG. 6, the bottom side of channels 26 provide corresponding upwardly-turned channels 29 in the bottom of each deck 2 and 2. Channels 29 provide centered channels spanning the entire bottom of each pallet to receive and confine an additional securing band or strap (not shown) whereby a plurality of loaded pallets may be tied or secured together for transportation.

I claim:

1. An adjustable and reuseable pallet in combination with an article load having a base with a curvilinear outside surface comprising:

an opposed pair of independent load bearing decks,

each said deck having respective independent runner supports thereunder,

said article base resting on both of said decks,

upwardly turned opposed outside wall means on each of said decks contacting opposite outside surface portions of said article and confining the same therebetween,

each of said wall means contacting the outside curvilinear surface of said article at a plurality of different tangential locations,

and at least two load securing bands securing said decks to said article load under tension such that said wall means are maintained in continuous contact with said article load and at all of said different tangential locations.

2. The pallet of claim 1 wherein said article loads has an open core with four of said bands passing therethrough, two of which secure said load to one deck and the remaining two secure said load to the other deck 3. The pallet of claim 1 wherein said bands each pass over said load and under both of said decks and cross each other.

4. The pallet of claim 1 wherein said article loads has an open annular interior core and includes a support member spanning between said decks and having a rigid, upwardly extending, inside diameter support member spanning the inside diameter of siad core.

5. The pallet of claim 1 wherein each of said side wall means consists of a plurality of straight walls for tan gential contact with said article outside curvilinear side surfaces.

6. The pallet of claim 1 wherein said load bearing decks are identical.

7. The pallet of claim 6 wherein said load bearing decks are molded of plastic as an integral unit.

8. The pallet of claim 7 wherein said runner supports are downwardly protruding molded runners enclosing structural support members.

9. The pallet of claim 8 wherein said structural sup port members are encapsulated within said runner sup- 

1. An adjustable and reuseable pallet in combination with an article load having a base with a curvilinear outside surface comprising: an opposed pair of independent load bearing decks, each said deck having respective independent runner supports thereunder, said article base resting on both of said decks, upwardly turned opposed outside wall means on each of said decks contacting opposite outside surface portions of said article and confining the same therebetween, each of said wall means contacting the outside curvilinear surface of said article at a plurality of different tangential locations, and at least two load securing bands securing said decks to said article load under tension such that said wall means are maintained in continuous contact with said article load and at all of said different tangential locations.
 2. The pallet of claim 1 wherein said article loads has an open core with four of said bands passing therethrough, two of which secure said load to one deck and the remaining two secure said load to the other deck
 3. The pallet of claim 1 wherein said bands each pass over said load and under both of said decks and cross each other.
 4. The pallet of claim 1 wherein said article loads has an open annular interior core and includes a support member spanning between said decks and having a rigid, upwardly extending, inside diameter support member spanning the inside diameter of siad core.
 5. The pallet of claim 1 wherein each of said side wall means consists of a plurality of straight walls for tangential contact with said article outside curvilinear side surfaces.
 6. The pallet of claim 1 wherein said load bearing decks are identical.
 7. The pallet of claim 6 wherein said load bearing decks are molded of plastic as an integral unit.
 8. The pallet of claim 7 wherein said runner supports are downwardly protruding molded runners enclosing structural support members.
 9. The pallet of claim 8 wherein said structural support members are encapsulated within said runner supports. 